89R2208 MPF-D
By: Alvarado, et al. S.B. No. 258
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to electronic voter registration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The
secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person who
has an unexpired driver's license or personal identification card
issued in this state to complete a voter registration application
over the Internet from the official website of this state. The
websites of the secretary of state and the Department of Public
Safety must also provide a link to the location of the application
on the official website of this state.
(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration must:
(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on
the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature
on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card
for voter registration purposes;
(3) provide the information required under Section
13.002(c); and
(4) provide the audit number and date of issuance of
the applicant's Texas driver's license or personal identification
card issued by the Department of Public Safety.
(c) For each application the program shall:
(1) require that a digital copy of the applicant's
signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety; and
(2) compare the information provided by the applicant
against Department of Public Safety records.
(d) If the information submitted by an applicant does not
match Department of Public Safety records, the program shall:
(1) notify the applicant that the application cannot
be processed electronically; and
(2) advise the applicant to print an application and
submit it to the voter registrar of the county in which the
applicant resides by mail or personal delivery.
(e) If the information submitted by an applicant matches
Department of Public Safety records, the program shall forward the
application to the registrar of the county in which the applicant
states that the applicant resides.
(f) On receipt of an application under Subsection (e), the
registrar shall review the application in accordance with Section
13.071.
(g) An application electronically submitted under this
section is considered for all purposes as an application submitted
by mail under this title.
(h) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section, including rules to provide for additional
security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
applications submitted electronically.
(i) The rules adopted under Subsection (h) must require
that:
(1) the Internet website through which a person may
complete a voter registration application include a description of
the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location
on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the
application; and
(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be
used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an
application electronically under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.